Barnbow

Post by **chameleon** » Wed 21 May, 2008 7:47 pm

It has long been the policy in Leeds at least Squatch, to 'integrate' light industry and commercial development into areas of housing - quite why I don't know, but I am sure it is not always the best idea.This is the case along the Coal Road, with development supposedly complimenting the light industry along the adjacent Ring Road. A drive along there will reveal little activity these days, the old Flag Ship Agfa (Howsons) site virtually a ghost town with little sign of life as it sprawls endlessly along having consumed the old chalk pits, production now being taken abroad.There are I think, more vacant than occupied units in the Victoria Park next to Unilever but still, another office park was built on a nearby site regarded as being an SSSI.And the UDP as you realise wants the building of even more such premises interspersed between existing and proposed housing all along the existing Green Belt boundry and along, yes, the New Road.

raveydavey · Post by **raveydavey** » Mon 26 May, 2008 9:11 pm

Going slightly off-topic, can we not get this new road stopped?Simply dualling the existing outer ring road (easily done) would solve most of the problems concerning traffic, the credit crunch seems to have stopped any new housing plans for the time being and even the most cursory of investigations will show that there is already a plethora of unoccupied "light industrial" and commercial premises across the city.I live in Swarcliffe and am quite fond of the fact that open countryside is only a ten minute walk away.

Post by **chameleon** » Mon 26 May, 2008 9:41 pm

raveydavey wrote: Going slightly off-topic, can we not get this new road stopped?Simply dualling the existing outer ring road (easily done) would solve most of the problems concerning traffic, the credit crunch seems to have stopped any new housing plans for the time being and even the most cursory of investigations will show that there is already a plethora of unoccupied "light industrial" and commercial premises across the city.I live in Swarcliffe and am quite fond of the fact that open countryside is only a ten minute walk away. I doubt it. It is regarded as an essential element to allow full realisation of the current UDP - no transport link, no (or limited) development along its line.It was brought to a halt as I showed above, but that was because of cuts made by the Highways Agency, but now as the responsibility of the Local Authority, the crucial element, money, could be forthcoming to allow its resurection.I have seen before during such protests and debates, that over time, small segments of 'improvements' or additions to roads take place until the point is reached whereby there really is little point in not 'joining up' all the bits and we have then have - a new road!If you look carefully, this could be said to be happening, Thorpe Park - the blind roundabout exits, the lack of development along the route, the odd refused Planning application that might not be conducive....In fairness, much research has been done and public opinion sought, but whilst opinions may shape such a venture, they won't necessarily stop it. Simply dualing the existing road is not without its difficulties and more over, would not serve the greater purpose!This is the latest on the matter, though the latest does seem a little old now.http://www.leeds.gov.uk/page.aspx?pagei ... 14003E2FAA

raveydavey · Post by **raveydavey** » Mon 14 Jul, 2008 2:22 pm

Something posted on another thread reminded me of another twist in the Barnbow tale. A couple of weeks ago, an application was made for planning permisiion to level the current site and redevelop as residential housing, according to the YEP.Now, as I've posted before, Optare (or whatever they are called now) have tried this twice to my knowledge for their smaller site over the road and it has been rejected on both occassions, so what will become of this?The whole area is zoned as commercial or industrial development under the UDP, so a residential development would fly in the face of that. In addition to that, given the way housebuilders are struggling to sell anything and are laying off staff left, right and centre at the moment, who on earth is going to want to build a load of houses there in the current climate?

Old A/B · Post by **Old A/B** » Tue 15 Jul, 2008 12:25 am

Gruesome this so don't read if you would prefer not to.My Grandfather was a Carpenter and was doing some repair work after the explosion in WW1. He was up a ladder nailing some wooden guttering back into place. He was banging away with his hammer when a womans head rolled down and off the roof!Up a ladder would not be the best of places to receive a shock like that.

rangieowner · Post by **rangieowner** » Tue 07 Oct, 2008 1:24 pm

raveydavey wrote: Going slightly off-topic, can we not get this new road stopped?Simply dualling the existing outer ring road (easily done) would solve most of the problems concerning traffic, the credit crunch seems to have stopped any new housing plans for the time being and even the most cursory of investigations will show that there is already a plethora of unoccupied "light industrial" and commercial premises across the city.I live in Swarcliffe and am quite fond of the fact that open countryside is only a ten minute walk away. I agree ravey! I live in Stanks and have the countryside right on my back door! This new development (if it goes ahead) will be about 200 yards from my gaff with only the old railway embankment for protection!!

rangieowner · Post by **rangieowner** » Tue 07 Oct, 2008 1:28 pm

chameleon wrote: raveydavey wrote: Going slightly off-topic, can we not get this new road stopped?Simply dualling the existing outer ring road (easily done) would solve most of the problems concerning traffic, the credit crunch seems to have stopped any new housing plans for the time being and even the most cursory of investigations will show that there is already a plethora of unoccupied "light industrial" and commercial premises across the city.I live in Swarcliffe and am quite fond of the fact that open countryside is only a ten minute walk away. I doubt it. It is regarded as an essential element to allow full realisation of the current UDP - no transport link, no (or limited) development along its line.It was brought to a halt as I showed above, but that was because of cuts made by the Highways Agency, but now as the responsibility of the Local Authority, the crucial element, money, could be forthcoming to allow its resurection. Never mind local authorities spending ££s on new roads! what about spending it on bringing the existing roads of Leeds into the 21st century!

Post by **chameleon** » Tue 07 Oct, 2008 3:23 pm

rangieowner wrote: chameleon wrote: raveydavey wrote: Going slightly off-topic, can we not get this new road stopped?Simply dualling the existing outer ring road (easily done) would solve most of the problems concerning traffic, the credit crunch seems to have stopped any new housing plans for the time being and even the most cursory of investigations will show that there is already a plethora of unoccupied "light industrial" and commercial premises across the city.I live in Swarcliffe and am quite fond of the fact that open countryside is only a ten minute walk away. I doubt it. It is regarded as an essential element to allow full realisation of the current UDP - no transport link, no (or limited) development along its line.It was brought to a halt as I showed above, but that was because of cuts made by the Highways Agency, but now as the responsibility of the Local Authority, the crucial element, money, could be forthcoming to allow its resurection. Never mind local authorities spending ££s on new roads! what about spending it on bringing the existing roads of Leeds into the 21st century! Hi Rangie - 200 yds from your back door? me too, almost, as you head further across towards Red Hall and if that does go ahead, so likely the 'mixed' building that will come next. bye bye the green belt I've looked out over for some 26 years - we'll be surrounded - probably be joined up with Thorner before long!There is one area where they are doing up bits, magnificent granite cobled streets, desperately in need of being brought all to the same level, not sure they might be listed. So... I've heard they are going to tarmac the lot, not any old tarmac mind, some stuff that sits on top to give a level surface 'without destrying the original cobbles. It's cobbles ok - if this is so, what a half hearted way to treat a little bit of heritage!

Telstar · Post by **Telstar** » Tue 07 Oct, 2008 8:30 pm

Hi I remember the Royal Ordnance Factory, Barnbow, in the 1950's & early 1960's when my family lived up the hill at Lulworth Crescent. The actual buildings looked quite distinctive at the time, in fact better than the buildings that Vickers installed later on. It was a very busy place, and quite noisy during the early hours of the morning. I also remember there was a gatehouse, situated between the two railway bridges on Austhorpe Lane, now there are just a few remnants of the gatehouses.Barnbow also had its own private railway system that linked to the Leeds - York - Hull main line, there is still evidence of this junction. The former Cross Gates goods line also joined up with the Barnbow Tank Works line at this junction (can be seen from a train passing from Leeds to York on the same side as the former works).

liits · Post by **liits** » Tue 07 Oct, 2008 8:58 pm

For Dunki & Munki.I saw this on the "Crossgates Today" site and thought that. if you could bring your influence to bear, Secret Leeds, may be able to organise a trip around the "New" Vickers building before it's pulled down.Although I worked at Barnbow, I left in 1986, just as the new shed was being built, so never saw inside the end product. I would imagine that quite a few people had seen inside the previous buildings as ROF held a few "Family / Open Days".What do you think the chances are.....?From Crossgates Today:"When the housing slump is over, new homes will be built on one of Leeds's most famous industrial sites. Land at Cross Gates once occupied by Vickers tank factory will find a new use. Leeds East plans panel agreed in principle to a maximum of 151 dwellings on the Vickers site on Manston Lane and a further 256 on land on the other side of the road occupied by coach builder Optare.Optare is presently looking to re-locate and when it does so some 16 acres of land will become available.The permission is dependent on the signing of a section 106 agreement relating to strict conditions.Planners had previously turned down schemes for 188 houses and flats at the Vickers site and 285 at Optare because the local road system could not cope with the extra traffic.But they felt able to approve smaller schemes provided they were phased. Only 260 homes (138 at Optare and 122 at Vickers) will be permitted before the link road is built from Manston Lane to the M1.When that is achieved, then the remaining 147 units will be built.Chief planning officer Phil Crabtree said: "The housing market is very depressed and even if these plans are approved it is unlikely the homes will be completed before the end of 2013 – by which time there is every prospect that the Manston Lane link road will be in place to cope with congestion."Coun Peter Gruen (Lab, Cross Gates and Whinmoor) warned: "If building starts too early, and there are no transport links in place, this will lead to a much more congested area and local people will feel we have let them down. This is an opportunity to sensitively develop a part of a very unglamorous site (Vickers) which has seen better days and to enhance the area with proper highways and transport links."Austhorpe and Cross Gates are heavily congested and recently the whole area was gridlocked because of a music festival."The Vickers site, which spreads across 60 acres, is part-occupied by a storage and distribution depot which was granted permission in 2002.The housing land will cover just 12 acres and currently has extensive areas of hardstanding associated with tank manufacture.The plan was submitted by Threadneedle Property Investments Ltd, which bought the site from Rolls-Royce.The last link with the tank factory was severed in 2003 when 130 Vickers Defence Systems engineers moved out of their offices.They were relocated to a new development at Leeds Valley Park in Stourton, where a centre of excellence for electronic systems and technology was opened in 2003.An auction of the factory's tools and equipment marked the end of an 80-year history of arms-making.The state-owned Barnbow Royal Ordnance Factory opened in 1915 and in its heyday employed 17,000 people making munitions for the First World War.A new factory was built at Cross Gates in 1939 which installed gun barrels on American Sherman tanks before it produced its own tanks such as the Centurion, Chieftain, Challenger 1 and Challenger 2.Barnbow was privatised and bought by Vickers (a subsidiary of Rolls-Royce) in 1986."